Sale of portion of city property OK’d

Sale of a portion of the city property at the corner of Kingshighway and Bishop Avenue to CVS Pharmacy was approved by the Rolla City Council Monday night.

The price was $12,500 for 3,223.44 square feet of space from the pocket park where the Rolla downtown sign is located.

That’s about a third or less of the property owned by the city and zoned G/I (government/institutional district). The council also voted to rezone the 3,223.44 square feet to C-3 (highway commercial district), and accepted a replatting of that corner to consolidate the pocket park portion with the rest of the property CVS has purchased to build a store.

“CVS will be able to add an additional six parking spaces with the addition of this property,” Community Development Director John Petersen told the council. “The additional spaces will allow CVS to meet the city’s parking requirements for 61 spaces.”

City Administrator John Butz said the city will retain a utility easement on the small parcel. CVS will pay for rerouting and relocating portions of the sidewalk, benches and a trash container.

“In addition, CVS will install considerable green space and landscaping around their facility, which will substantially improve the aesthetics of this important commercial location,” Butz said.

In other business or discussion:

n The council heard the first reading of an ordinance to approve a conditional use permit for Fat Cats Entertainment Center, located behind The Family Center. Business owner Josh Noe told the council he wants to add a bar/tavern or night club.

n The council also heard first reading of an ordinance that would regulate family entertainment and recreation complexes like Fat Cats.

n The council heard the first reading of an ordinance authorizing that 715 W. 11th St. be rezoned from R-2 (two family district) to R-3 (multi-family district). The council was prepared to pass the rezoning on final reading but decided to wait until the next meeting due to questions about the status of a burned structure on the property.

Owner Xiaoyan Cheng Shuwang Li wants to build a new multi-family structure. Removal of the burned house turned out not to be certain. The council wants it to be razed and decided to wait until the owner makes clear the plans for the burned and vandalized building.

n The council approved the replatting of the a portion of Arwood Hills No. 1 Addition to remove the residential lots. Petersen said the replatting will give the property a “clean slate” so owner Nathan Chapman can sell what was to be a residential subdivision to Riley and Spence Properties, of Fenton, to build a nursing home. The replatted area is called the Rolla Skilled Nursing Facility Plat No. 1.

Page 2 of 2 - The council declined to accept a portion of the area as parkland, opting instead for a cash payment.

n Council members elected April 2 were sworn in and Louis Magdits was named mayor pro tempore and Greg Sawyer was named the council representative to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

n The council approved the renaming of North Field to Morgan Field in memory of former Mayor Joe Morgan, the soccer field to Robertson Field in memory of Kittie Robertson and the South Field to Kwantes Field in honor of long-time parks director Ken Kwantes.

n The council agreed to pay Meramec Regional Planning Commission $23,000 to serve as the grant administrator for the water and sewer improvements at Rolla National Airport. That work is funded primarily by an Economic Development Administration grant from the state government.